A first Marathon to help injured friend

Wednesday

Apr 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Kendall HatchDaily News Staff

On the anniversary last yearís Boston Marathon bombings, a pair of first-time marathoners reflected on the Monday afternoon last year that left their friend severely injured and prepared to run the race they hope will allow them to help her in her continuing recovery.Maria Benway and Sarah Friedman, coworkers at Framingham-based ServiceMaster by Gilmore, are getting ready this week to run their first-ever marathon on the route snaking from Hopkinton to Boylston Street on Monday.The pair, both experienced runners, said in a phone interview Tuesday that they have wanted to run the Boston Marathon for a long time. They were able to secure running bibs this year and say they are raising money for a cause particularly close to both of their hearts.Benway, of Marlborough,†and Friedman, of Northborough,†are running as part of Team Ro, a team of runners raising money in honor and support of Roseann Sdoia, a friend and colleague at another company who was injured in the bombing last year.Sdoia, a runner, was not running the Marathon last year but was standing at the finish line when the second bomb detonated, causing injuries that resulted in her right leg being amputated above the knee.Friedman said that once colleagues heard that Sdoia had been hurt, they rallied together to try to find ways to help.Benway, who was also in Boston on Marathon Monday but not near the finish line, said that there have been a few other fundraising events, including a fundraising dinner hosted by ServiceMaster last week, and said that donors have been generous so far. She said that she and Friedman just recently reached their fundraising goal of $30,000, although they are still hoping to raise more.The money will go to pay for prostheses, which have to be replaced every five years, said Benway.Benway and Friedman, who have run three half marathons together, say their training is going well, although they said theyíre expecting some nerves next Monday.Benway said that she is going to try to do her best to savor the experience and remember the reason she is running."I really just want to soak it all in. I know Iím going to be emotional," she said. "I just want to enjoy it. Iím not concerned about time."Friedman agreed."It is the best marathon in the world and for us to be able to run it is incredible," she said. She said the opportunity to run this year and for this cause in particular make the experience even more valuable."I just keep saying how grateful I am," she said. "Itís an honor to be a part of this."The pairís fundraising page can be found at www.gofundme.com/runningforro.For complete Boston Marathon coverage, visit wickedlocal.com/news/boston-marathon. Kendall Hatch can be reached at 508-490-7453 or khatch@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kendall_HatchMW.